variants
also surprized
as in startled
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variants
also surprized
1
as in amazed
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
I was very surprised when my parents offered to pay the down payment on our house
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in ambushed
to lie in wait for and attack by surprise
FBI agents surprised the counterfeiters in their own base of operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surprised
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Readers who discover Joy Williams’s astonishing second novel in 2018 may be surprised to feel a primordial déjà vu; a tingling where their own antlers might have been, once upon a time.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
But head coach Alvaro Arbeloa surprised everyone by picking academy graduate David Jimenez at right-back.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surprised
Adjective
The only element of the film where Del Toro actively hopes to be surprised is the score.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Readers who discover Joy Williams’s astonishing second novel in 2018 may be surprised to feel a primordial déjà vu; a tingling where their own antlers might have been, once upon a time.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Koutroulis said he was surprised by the influx of complaints shared by AQMD, as the county did not collect as many complaints through its reporting system.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
But head coach Alvaro Arbeloa surprised everyone by picking academy graduate David Jimenez at right-back.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surprised
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surprised
Adjective
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Dwayne was startled when a scout approached him and referred to his son as an NBA prospect.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2026
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If guests are startled — or, more likely, amused — at your father’s being tieless and wearing sneakers, that is his problem.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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What amazed me the most was the remains of what appeared to be a tall conifer — possibly a cypress or cedar — on Edgar Street in Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire ravaged an entire street.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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The universe amazed me yet again.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Investigators allege that Andrade and Rodriguez ambushed 6ix9ine’s mother at gunpoint in the garage of the rapper’s Wellington, Florida home.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan national in the leg after agents were allegedly ambushed and attacked with a shovel.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … POLITICS 'CIVICS LESSON’ — Republican shocked after anti-ICE sheriff stumped by basic government question.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Many would be shocked to realize that the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny was very unlikely motivated by politics.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The book's Japanese translator was murdered, and others associated with it were attacked.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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Because as Bam Adebayo attacked a second-quarter offensive rebound with seemingly nothing but open air space toward the rim, teammate Kel’el Ware had similar thoughts of contesting that same carom of that Davion Mitchell errant attempt.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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From decades old stalwarts that awed generations of diners to relative newcomers that arrived boasting critical acclaim, here are a few of the closures that hit hardest in 2025.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
30 Dec. 2025
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The Aggies lauded Kentucky as a great team and were still laughing in disbelief after the match, awed by their own accomplishments.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The opportunity wasn’t lost on Shula, the rock-solid legend who sat afterward at his locker, openly crying, in a manner that stunned Dolphins personnel.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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Alphabet’s massive increase in AI infrastructure spending sets a new high water mark just one week after Meta stunned the Street by announcing plans to nearly double its capex to between $115 billion and $135 billion this year.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
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The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surprised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surprised. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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